Is Essuman next for English king Owen?

Owen Cooper…rumours of a clash with former British champ

NOTHING confirmed and all parties are remaining tight-lipped, but the boxing rumour mill is positively buzzing over claims of a summer super-fight between Worcester sensation Owen Cooper and former British champ Ekow Essuman.

If it’s on – and I’m yet to be wrong – we have a mouthwatering encounter.

Neither Cooper, his trainer Malcolm Melvin or Black Country Boxing are commenting, but I’ve been given the tip by three very reliable sources.

They say it will take place on a Queensberry promotion in July. I’ve no details of what’s on the line, but the contest deserves to be a British welterweight title final eliminator.

It’s another step-up for 23-year-old Cooper who looked something special in his last outing. Last month he pummelled previously unbeaten Eithan James into ninth round submission for the English and WBO European welterweight belts.

He had James in dire trouble as early as the first.

What looked, on paper, a potential war was turned into a near walkover by Owen.

After 10 contests unbeaten, Cooper has the look of a young man destined for big things.

Nottingham’s Essuman is, however, an acid test. He has a superb engine and hits hard.

Chris Jenkins not only lost his British and Commonwealth belts to Essuman in eight rounds, but also suffered broken ribs.

Kingwinsford’s Danny Ball suffered a fractured draw in his sixth round title loss to the man.

Essuman was outpointed for all his titles last November by Harry Scarff – his only loss in 20 bouts.

He’s itching to get reclaim the Number One spot, but, at 35, may not be the force he once was.

Cooper will show us what he has left. Cooper represents a very formidable obstacle.

Following his victory over James, Melvin told me: “It was a real mature display and Owen is only going to get better. We’d take a British title fight in a heart-beat.

“I thought Owen boxed superbly and people forget he’s only had 10 fights and is still growing.

“People see him as an aggressive, front foot fighter, but he can also box on the back foot. He’s a very good boxer.

“We had a game plan for Eithan James and it came to fruition. Educated pressure, good feet, on him all the time, never giving him a break. How Owen had sparred and looked, we knew there was going to be a big performance.”

Does another big performance beckon?